Ubuntu is working on the next but one release, 8.10, codenamed Intrepid Ibex. Ubuntu promoter and Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth launched the next round of development in the traditional way by naming the product.

Names from the animal kingdom have a long-standing tradition at Ubuntu. The ibex is sure of foot on uncertain and difficult terrain. Shuttleworth has announced a new direction for 8.10 development, which will entail a complete rework of the user interface among other things. Shuttleworth’s goal is for Ubuntu to shine on both high-end workstations and subnotebooks. The Ubuntu founder has also highlighted performance and seamless transitions for various forms of Web access as criteria for the Linux distribution. The anticipated release date for 8.10 is October. Ubuntu will be fixing details of the schedule and features at the Ubuntu Developer Summit (May 19 through 23) in Prague.

But before all of this happens, April sees the release of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron, which - following Dapper Drake - will be another LTS (Long Time Support) version that aims for more stability and longer support cycles.